SUDDEN QUEST! ARCANE ALPHA! part 2

**

*

Running away from home was the most painful decision I ever made. My childhood had been a time of humble happiness, filled with the warmth of my family's love. We lived in a small, cozy house tucked away in a quiet neighborhood, and my parents, hardworking and unwavering, had always been the pillars of our lives. Their unwavering dedication and tireless efforts to make ends meet left a profound mark on me.

I had three siblings, including a pair of twins and a younger sister. Our home might have been modest, but it was a place where laughter and love thrived. My father, a skilled carpenter, poured his heart into crafting beautiful pieces of furniture, while my mother, a compassionate nurse, dedicated her life to caring for others. Despite the hardships they faced, they always made time for their children, teaching us valuable life lessons along the way.

I grew up as a rather shy child, a trait that often made me an easy target for bullies at school. I would come home with tears in my eyes, bearing the physical and emotional scars of these encounters. But I never shared these ordeals with my parents. I was determined not to burden them further.

My parents had more than enough on their plates. Their demanding professions required long hours, and I didn't want to add my problems to their worries. I believed that by keeping my struggles to myself, I was protecting them from the knowledge of my suffering.

However, the day everything changed was etched in my memory. My father fell victim to a sinister scam orchestrated by his boss, which left our family buried in a mountain of debt. The weight of our financial struggles began to strain our peaceful home. My parents, usually united in their decisions, now found themselves locked in an impassable dispute.

I felt their anguish as they argued, their voices marked by anger and despair. My heart ached as I watched them, their faces contorted by both anger and sadness. I couldn't bear to see them suffer like this any longer, and my mind was filled with the desire to help in any way I could.

I had an idea – or rather, a desperate plan. I suggested to my parents that I should stop my education and start working to alleviate their burdens. But my proposal was met with furious objections from both my father and mother. Their dreams for me were set; I was to finish my studies, secure a better future, and live the life they wished they could provide for me.

Their determination was unwavering. I watched them with tears in my eyes as they refused to relent, despite their own exhaustion. I knew they were right, that they wanted what was best for me, but the heavy weight of guilt and helplessness settled upon me. The struggle between my desire to help and their dreams for my future tore me apart.

In a moment of desperation, I made a choice that would forever haunt me. Without warning, without saying a word to my beloved family, I ran away from home. I left behind a heart-wrenching letter, but it was not enough to assuage the guilt I felt. I left in search of a way to support my family from the shadows.

With the help of one of my friends, my  journey led me to Japan, a distant land where I toiled endlessly in various jobs to send money back home without them ever knowing my whereabouts. It was a life marked by hardship and isolation, but I was willing to endure it for the sake of my family.

To this day, I am haunted by the picture of sorrow in my parents' eyes and the sound of their voices as they cried for their lost child. The memory of leaving them behind, without warning or explanation, crushes my heart.

Now, life has once again presented me with a choice that bears echoes of the past. I am faced with a situation where I must decide whether to leave someone once more. The weight of the past bears heavily on my shoulders, and I find myself grappling with an unbearable sense of déjà vu. I wonder if this is simply my fate – to repeat the painful choices I made long ago.

**

Kuonh gazed behind him and saw Naida facing the massive Arcane Alpha with a newfound courage, her previous fear seemingly vanished. He couldn't bear to make the same heart-wrenching choice he had just contemplated moments ago. He had made a promise to protect her, and that's exactly what he intended to do.

"haah"

Taking a deep breath, Kuonh began to speak, his voice heavy with the weight of the decision he was about to propose. "The thing is," he said, his voice trembling with regret, "the plan involves you dying in this place."

Naida stood there, stunned and unable to process the words that had just left Kuonh's lips. Her mind struggled to grasp the gravity of what he was suggesting.

"I'm sorry," Kuonh said, his voice laced with deep regret. he walked to the side, raised his sword and:

*slashed*

"!!"

In an instant, Naida's head detached from her body.

the scene unfolding in a surreal, nightmarish fashion. She watched, helpless, as an image of her lifeless body stood headless, and beside it, a young man holding a blade stained with her blood.

"You at least need to survive; I'm sorry," Kuonh whispered, the last words she heard. His voice filled with sorrow as he made a forced gentle smile.

*HHHHSSHSHSSSH------*

". . . . . . . "

*ting*

[YOU DIED]

[You receive multiple penalties: Your level dropped by one, and some random items had been dropped from your inventory. Additionally, You won't be able to log in for a day.]

Naida found herself in a surreal, circular space the same place where she end up with the first time she logged in, staring into the abyss, trying to come to terms with what had transpired.

". . . . . . ."

[Logging out in]

10

9

8

~

1

  "K-ku--"

Her body glows blue as it breaks into millions of pieces until she logs out of the world.